James "Jim" McCormick
Jim P. McCormick, 84, of Waukon died Sunday, May 15, 2022 at Good Samaritan Society in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, May 23 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial with military honors was at St. Mary’s Hanover Cemetery in rural Waukon.
James Peter McCormick was born May 19, 1937 on his parents’ farm in Hanover Township, rural Waukon, the son of John E. and Mary J. (Burke) McCormick. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Hanover Catholic Church. Jim graduated from St. Patrick Catholic High School in Waukon in 1955; as a freshman at St. Pat’s, he was the starting catcher for the Wildcats baseball team, where he loved playing ball with his brother, John Joe, who always encouraged him. He also served in the U.S. Army from 1955-1956.
August 25, 1956, he married Theresa Schwartzhoff at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dorchester. They had five children: Kevin, Carrie, Lora, Julie and Mary. Theresa died in 2001. November 8, 2003, he married Karen Booher at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church at West Ridge in rural Waukon. Jim farmed in Hanover Township, where he raised beef cattle and hogs and milked cows. He also worked at IAS in Waukon and drove school bus for the Allamakee Community School District for 29 years, retiring in 2021.
Jim was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Hanover Catholic Church and belonged to the Knights of Columbus and American Legion Post 722 in Harpers Ferry as well. He also donated 15 gallons of blood to the blood bank throughout his life. Jim enjoyed gardening, cutting wood, playing cards, traveling, country music, and playing and coaching baseball. Jim loved his Irish heritage, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, and was active in Hanover city council and mayoral politics. He easily engaged with everyone he met and took a genuine interest in their joys and struggles.
Survivors include his wife, Karen, of Waukon; his children: Kevin of Waukon, and Carrie Beneke and Mary (Joe) Kobliska, both of Waverly; a son-in-law, Thomas Christensen of Waukon; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren, with two on the way; two sisters: Rita Schulte of Dorchester and Marlene Dorn of Weatherford, TX; and his step-children: Tom (Kathy) Booher of Urbana, Dan (Jessie) Booher of Anamosa, Rick (Cammie) Booher and Rob Booher, both of Marion, Cindy (Larry) Foster of Missouri, Susie Reynolds of Marion, Julie (Jeff) Reid of Texas, and Penny (Clint) Koerperick and Laurie (Jon) Stribling, both of Marion. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Theresa; two daughters, Lora (Ron) Frana and Julie Christensen; a brother, John Joe (Jeanette) McCormick; two brothers-in-law, Frank Schulte and Thomas Dorn; his step-children, Jane Reynolds and Jim Bob Booher; and a step-son-in-law, Buddy Reynolds.
Casketbearers were Jim’s grandsons: Bryce McCormick, Brian Kelly, John Kelly, Ryan Christensen, Matt Kobliska and Dan Kobliska. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
